The map shown below is a section taken from
an 1897 map of the city of Philadelphia. This section represents
the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Philadelphia, which can
roughly be described as the area of the city bounded by Market
Street on the North, South Street on the South, Broad Street on
the East, and the Schuykill River to the West. The center of the
neighborhood is dominated by Rittenhouse Square, one of the four
original squares laid out by William Penn in his 1682 Plan for
Philadelphia.

In the nineteenth century, the area became
one of the most desirable residential neighborhoods in the city
and quickly became characterized by elegant mansions and brownstones
built by the elite of Philadelphia. Each blue box located on the
map below represents one of these elite residences and is linked
to a photograph of the residence and a short summary containing
the address, original owner, and notable facts regarding the home.
This information has been taken from a book published in 1900
by Moses King, entitled, Philadelphia and Notable Philadelphians.